Ministry of Culture
SmtMeenakashiLekhiinaugurates Women In Focus: Visualizing Feminine Constructs in Indian Artexhibition at National Museum
Exhibition titled Women In Focus: Visualizing Feminine Constructs in Indian Art inaugurated by SmtMeenakashiLekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, today at National Museum. The exhibition will remain open for public viewing from 10:00 am to 6.00 pm from August 12, 2023 onwards  at Ajanta Hall, First Floor, National Museum, Delhi.
This exhibition focuses on examining the multifaceted traditional notions of Power, Patronage, and Piety through the lens of femininity. These three constructs have been traditionally associated with masculinity in the well-worn grooves of religious and historic discourses. This exhibition presents transcultural notions of Indian art and history representing 'the female voice'. Spanning across different religious and social representations, it focuses on the iconic representations of women in India through sculptures, manuscripts, miniatures, jewellery tapestries, ritual objects, and amulets, as bearers of a unique visual and material culture.
Speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of the exhibition and release of catalogue titled Women In Focus, SmtMeenakashiLekhi referred that such exhibitions celebrate women and their pivotal contribution towards the society and growth of an economy. These are in alignment with one of the important mandates of India’s presidency of G20 - Equity and Women led Development. Ms Lekhi drew several references as documented in classical arts and historical texts of India and that are evidences of an elated and equitable status of the women in Indian society. She mentioned the famed Dancing Girl of the National Museum and the numerous paintings and sculptures in Indian art depicting women as scribes, as mahouts , fierce guards in addition to the more convention portrayal of women as goddesses, nayikas and nurturers. SmtLekhi also paid her tributes to the valour of Rani Abbakka who withstood against an oppressive regime and is an inspiration to this day.
The feminine power is conceived as dualistic in nature, represented as the transcendental wisdom and the body, denoted by the journey of women in their corporeal form and their divine existence in form of the goddess cult and the female pantheon depicted in varied religious realms. These two ideas are interwoven and hold a paramount significance in the Indic heritage reflected through the diverse representations of womanhood in oral traditions, literature, visual art, and philosophical and ritual practices. The efflorescence of the gynocentric ideology is traceable in the texts, visual forms, folk tales, and ritual practices highlighting the concepts of motherhood, supreme wisdom, compassion, and the bestowal of protection, merit, abundance, and purification. Assessing the significance of the female body, the concept of beauty and the practice of adornment of the feminine body would, in its original meaning, becomes a part of the maternal order, connecting women with the feminine origin of human life from the flesh, the bond with the mother. Patronage is explored via the literary texts and art commissioned by Queens, Princesses, and heroines of the tales, bespeaking their esteemed hierarchical rank and contribution to society. The exhibition concludes with the notion of piety, both towards filial relations and religious discourses, through feminine devotional practices. The objects collectively bring forth a historical narrative that has been part of an Indian consciousness for centuries. With almost a hundred objects on display, the exhibition highlights masterpieces from the collections of Pre-History, Archaeology, Manuscript, Anthropology, Decorative Art, Central Asian Antiquities, Pre-Columbian and Western Art, Painting, Numismatics, Epigraphy and Jewellery, and Arms and Armour.
The inauguration ceremony of the exhibition titled ‘Women in Focus’ also coincided with the book release of two additional publications brought out by the National Museum. The first is the Hindi translation of the book: Buddha, Bauddha Dharma and Bauddha Kala by Dr.BuddhRashmi Mani and Shri Sanib Kumar Singh and the second is the third edition of the book titled An introduction to the Indus Valley Civilisation by Sanjib Kumar Singh and Gunjan Kumar Srivastava. Dr BR Mani, Director General of the National Museum spoke of the significance of the educational role of the museums and how such exhibitions assist in promoting the women in Indian art to young and school going crowds who visit the museum in large numbers.
Beginning with the famous Dancing Girl and Mother and Child, from the Indus – Saraswati Civilization and proceeding onward to the Classical and Medieval goddess cults in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions, the representation of Devi and Shakti is a common strand connecting such distinctive traditions. Royal power and patronage are represented by Medieval art, commissioned by the female members of regal courts and families. Representations of women are also visible in pre-modern folk practices through pattachitras, warli painting, and matanipachediamong others. Aspects of power, patronage, and piety from ancient to modern times are highlighted in the exhibition, presenting the fundamental and prominent role women have played throughout India's millennia.
Shri Ashish Goyal, Additional Director General while addressing the Vote of thanks stated that the National Museum remains committed to showcasing many such exhibitions and the blueprint as chalked out by the Ministry of Culture would be implemented in letter and spirit.